April Fools' pranks

In France, where it is known as Poisson d'Avril (April Fish), a prankster sticks paper fish on the back of their unsuspecting victim and runs away screaming “ ...

But thankfully, the paper was good enough to explain later in the same article that it was a joke. As Associated Press reported at the time and BBC itself admitted that the broadcaster had to apologise for weeks to many of its foreign subscribers who got in touch to claim Big Ben’s hands. The broadcaster soon came clean on the story, revealing it to be a prank. When the office of two US senators called up Taco Bell and the National Park Service about the news, the company issued a statement confirming that it was an April Fools’ prank. This was enough to trigger debates among experts outraging against the Alabama legislature’s ‘decision’. Thanks to a growing popularity of emails at that time, the story went viral on the internet. And some even called up BBC to ‘reveal’ how they felt floating in the air. The reason given was that Taco Bell purchased it “in an effort to help the national debt.” Stensson went to great lengths to explain (in what sounded like technical terms) that the nylon stocking would bend the wavelengths of the TV and turn them into colour. It takes the boredom out of everyday work.” In France, where it is known as Poisson d’Avril (April Fish), a prankster sticks paper fish on the back of their unsuspecting victim and runs away screaming “Poisson d’Avril!” at the top of their lungs. Some claim that this tradition of pulling off a practical joke on friends and strangers can be traced to the ancient Roman period. Liberty Bell is one of the most enduring symbols of American freedom.